Apparatus for raising sunken vessels.



N0. 695,33. Patented Mar. ll, I902.

F. G. NIELSEN.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

(Application filed June 12, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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Ihvlirnn Eateries PATENT rrioni FRIEDRICH GERHARD NIELSEN, OF SONDERBURG, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

SPEGIFIGATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,331, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed June 12, 1901. -SB1l3.lN0-64,264- (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FnInDRioi-I GERHARD NIELSEN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at gas-works,Sonderb urg, Germany, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising or Destroying Sunken Objects; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improved means for raising sunken ships or other submerged objects or forblowing up the same, the object of the invention being to facilitate and chcapen such work.

With this object in view the invention consists in the improved construction arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a portion employed in carrying out my invention, parts of the mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the plane indicated by the broken line A B in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan View, part of the pontoon being broken away,

Like letters of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various figures of the drawings.

19 indicates a Water-tight tank in the form of a pontoon, which whenfilled with airis suf ficiently buoyant to raise and float a considerable weight. Access maybe had to the interior of the pontoon through an opening in the top, which opening when the pontoon is ready for use is closed by means of a hollow casting a.

In the casting a is slidably fitted a bar a, passing through a stuffing-box o.

Suspended in hangers b, secured to the casting it inside the pontoon by means of a pivot e, is a box a, which is filled with a salt which brought into contact with water will quickly generate gas-such a salt, for instance, as calcium carbid. At the lower end of the bar at is a stopper d, which is normally seated in the mouth of the box a and serves the double purpose of closing the mouth and preventing the box from tipping on the pivot The bar it projects above the top of the pontoon and is grooved on opposite sides to receive the upper ends of spring-catches f, securedto the top of the casting a, a cap I, suspended by a string 9", serving to hold these catches in the grooves and preventing the rising of bar it under the normal pressure of a coiled spring 3 around the banbetween the stuffing-box o and an annular flange w.

g g indicate the rings for attachment of cables or chains by which to suspend and raise the pontoon.

'0 indicates an inwardopening valve in the bottom of the pontoon operated by means of a rod 0, threaded through the top of the pontoon and provided with'a suitable operating wheel or handle.

h indicates a hose or tube from an opening in the top of the pontoon leading to the botton and provided with a nozzle 0 to freely admit water. The upper end of the tube It is provided with an upwardly-opening valve e, held normally closed with moderate pressure by a spring m.

indicates any suitable igniting device in circuit through Wires Z Z with any suitable circuit-closer, as at m, and any suitable source of electric energy, as a battery m.

In the operation of the invention the pentoon is towed to a point above the submerged object, when by opening valve or enough water is let in to make it heavy enough to sink. After closing valve '1) the pontoon is permit ted to sink to the submerged object, to which it is secured. To raise the pontoon, and with it the submerged object, it is only necessary to draw cap 2 off the upper ends of springcatches f, when the catches will fly outward, releasing the bar and permitting it to rise under the pressure of spring 8. This will withdraw the stopper d, when the box a will tilt on pivot z, spilling its contained salt into the water in the pontoon. Gas will be immediately generated, and the pressure thereof on the surface of the water in the pontoon will force the water out through nozzle 0, tube h, and valve e until the pontoon becomes sufficiently buoyant to raise itself and the attached object.

If it should be desired to blow up a wreck or other submerged object, the gas in the pontoon may be exploded by closing the electric circuit at m, thus causing the igniter 70 to light the gas, causing it to explode and destroy the pontoon and the submergedobject.

Havingthus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by. Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A normally floatable Water-tight tank or pontoon for use in raising sunken objects, provided with means for permitting the entry of Water through the bottom, means for discharging Water at the top, a holder for a gas-developing salt, and means for discharging salt into the Water in the tank while submerged, substantially as described. 7

2. A normally floatable, water-tight pontoon provided with a water-admitting valve in its bottom, and a water-discharging valve in its top, a tilting holder for gas-developing salt in the tank and having a mouth in its top, a stopper normally pressed in the mouth, and means extending above the surface of the water for removing the stopper when the tank is submerged, substantially as described.

3. A normally fioatable tank provided with an inward-opening valve in its bottom, an outward opening in its top, a tube in the tank leading from the top valve to the bottom of the tank, a spring normally closingthe top valve, a tipping holder for gas-developin g salt pivoted in the tank,and having a mouth in its top, a stopper normally latched in said mouth, a spring normally pressing the stopper outward, and means for unlatohing the stopper operated from above the surface of the water, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the tank and its valves of the casting a, the box a suspended .pivotally therefrom below its center and having a mouth, the bar 11, having side grooves and carrying stopper d at its lower end fitting in said mouth, the spring 8 normally pressing the bar and stopper upward, the springoatches f and the cap 1' fitting over bar at and holding the catches in the side grooves, and means for removing the cap from the bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRIEDRICH GEI-tllAllD NIELSEN. Witnesses:

HERMES, JULIUS Roman. 

